Nozzle for the manufacture of mineral wool



March 14, 1944. CALLANDER 2,344,125

NOZZLE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MINERAL WOOL Filed July 8, 1940 FT 5 23 lNVENTOR SHALL E. CALLAN R Mar. 14,-

UNITED STATES PATENT orrica W n. Callander, Columbia, Mo.- Application July s. s, Serial No. 344,334 a cu (cl. sea-141) This invention relates, to nonles of the character employed in the manufacture of mineral wool, and has particular reference to the character of nozzle disclosed in. Letters Patent 0! the United States No. 2,076,445, granted April 6, 1937, to Marshall B. Callander.

While the nomle disclosed in the aforemen tioned Letters Patent is efllcient and effective insofar as the actual performance of its function to flberize molten mineral in the manufacture of mineral wool, it has been observed that under some circumstances and conditions of operation, there is a tendency for the molten material to accumulate and .solidify upon the face of the nomle, just below the series of apertures at the lower side of the nozzle. Such accumulations of the molten material dislodge themselves at intervals, and are projected with the atomized stream of molten material into the mineralwool being manufactured. If such accumulations, which are substantially solid, are not removed from the mineral wool, the gravity and insulating capacity of the resultant product is by them reduced to a slight extent.

Observation of the'performance of nozzles of the character disclosed in said patent has led to the belief that such accumulations or deposits upon the face of the nozzle are caused by leakage of the molten mineral material through the curtain of atomizing fluid projected substantially normal to the direction of flow of the stream of molten material by the various apertures con- I stated, is to improve upon the nozzle disclosed in the aforementioned patent, by so constructing and arranging the parts that accumulations of the molten mineral material, as just described, will be avoided.

Another object, of the invention is to provide a nozzle of the character referred to, wherein the flow of air or steam is such as to interfere with leakage of molten material from. within the curtain of atomizing fluid.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary view, somewhat diaent invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line liofl 'igurel Figure 4 is a face view of a nozzle constructed in accordance \with. another embodiment of the present invention, and 1 apertures through which the atomized fluid is projected are so arranged with respect. to the adjacent parts of the nozzle that a current of air or gas is caused toflow in a direction such as to counteract solidification of molten material between the individual jets at the lower side of the nozzle. While in the embodiments illustrated the improvement of the present invention is disc] in connection with 'a nozzle of the type referred to in the aforementioned patent,- it is to be understood that the features ofthis invention are not limited in their application to such nozzles, but are applicable at large to nozzles of the character in which a series of spaced jets are projected crosswise of a stream of molten material, and where there is a tendency for the molten material to leak through the curtain of atomizing fluid projected from the Jets.

embodiment of the of the nozzle adja- In accordance with on present invention, the pa cent the series of apertures from which jets of atomizing fluid emerge is so formed that a current of air is induced to flow in a direction such as to counteract the tendency for the molten material being atomized to leak through the curtain of atomizing gas. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the curtain of atomizing gas is made continuous, though of non-uniform intensity in that portion of the nozzle where leakage of the molten material through the curtain of atomizing fluid is likely to occur.

Referring now to the drawing, the present invention will be completely disclosed in connection with its use as a part of an apparatus for manufacturing mineralwool. Inthemanufacture of mineral wool, a suitable furnace, such as a cupola I, is provided, in which the mineral material, which may be rock or slag, is reduced to molten condition. The cupola is provided with a spout 2 for feeding a stream of the molten material into position for spinning or flberization by a stream of atomizing fluid directed by a nozzle 3. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the nozzle I is formed as a cap for a pipe 4 through which the stream of atomizing fluid, which may be steam, is fed; and the face of nozzle 3 is provided with a series of apertures arranged generally according to the configuration of. the Arabic numeral six (6), as clearlu shown in Figures 2 and 4, as well as in Figure 1, of Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,076,445.

Extending from a suitable reservoir, not shown, is a pipe I! terminating adjacent the top of nozzle 3 for feeding oil gradually to the face of the nozzle. Such ofl carbonizes upon the face of the nozzle and thereby inhibits sticking of the molten material to the nozzle. Such provision of carbonizable material at the face of the nozzle is not always necessary, but is frequently desirable where the conditions of operation are such that the molten material exhibits a tendency to stick to the nozzle.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the face of nozzle 3 is cut away exteriorly of the series of aperturesso as to provide a portion projecting beyond the surrounding portion 6. The series of apertures 'I, which are formed in the nozzle in accordance with the teachings of Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,076,445, are arranged to terminate at the margin of projecting portion 5 of the face of nozzle 3. Between projecting portion 5 and reBeved portion 8 of nozzle 3 is an intervenin portion 8, which is inclined or tapered. so as to produce a substantially streamlined effect between the two elevations in the face of the nozzle. The nozzle may also be provided with a groove 9, which in the embodiment shown extends interruptedly into projecting portion 5 of the face of the nozzle as groove 10. The grooves 8 and III are provided primarily for facilitating the centering of the nozzle with respect to the direction of flow of the stream of molten material to be fiberized, but function also, to some extent, to guide the stream of molten material, as well as the stream of oil from pipe I5, into proper position upon the face of the nozzle.

While in the embodiment just described the face of nozzle 3 is illustrated as being completely relieved at 8 exteriorly of the series of apertures I, it is to be understood that under most conditions of operation, the relief need extend only about the lower portion of the nozzle, so as to be adjacent those of apertures I, where leakage of the stream of molten material between the respective apertures is most likely to occur. For example, it will generally suflice for the relief to extend from aperture II to aperture I2, as it is between apertures II and I2 where leakage of the molten material between the apertures generally takes place.

In the operation of the embodiment Just described, it appears that the force of the Jets of steam emerging from aperture I in the direction indicated by the arrow I3 in Figure 3, induces a flow of air in the direction indicated by arrows I. Since the molten material is falling in the direction indicated generallyby arrow I5, it is evident that the induced current of air is counter to the stream of molten material; and consequently the induced current of air, flowing counter to the direction of leakage between the respective Jets of steam I3, produces sufficient resistance to inhibit the falling stream of molten material from passing between the respective jets of steam I3. It will be understood, of course, that the theory of operation Just described is by no means certain, but since it appears to be a reasonable explanation for the result accomplished, it is set forth herein in order to facilitate the disclosure, but without limiting effect upon the invention.

Referring now to Figures4 and 5 for a further embodiment of the invention, the nozzle 23 is provided in its face 24 with a series of apertures 21, arranged as in the previous embodiment; and the nozzle is provided with a groove 29 corresponding in function to grooves 0 and III of the previous embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, however, the face of the nozzle is not provided with a projecting part, as in the previous embodiment; but on the contrary, those apertures 21 which are between apertures 2I and 22, wher leakage of the molten material through the curtain of atomizing fluid is most likely to occur, are connected by means of a groove 25, which extends slightly below the outer surfaces of the face of nozzle 23, so that when the Jets of steam emerge from apertures 21, they are not at the face of the nozzle in the form of separate, distinct, and slightly spaced jets, but on the contrary are substantially continuous. Such superficial connection of the respective apertures 21 permits the jets of steam emerging therefrom to merge with each other substantially at the plane of the face of the nozzle, and while the substantially continuous curtain of atomizing fluid thereby created is more intense immediately opposite the respective apertures than in the intervening portions, the intervening portions are. nevertheless of suiilcient intensity to inhibit the leakage of molten material between the Jets.

From the foregoing description of the several embodiments, it is apparent that the present invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art; and while the invention has been specifically disclosed in connection with the character of nozzle contemplated by Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,076,445, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to nozzles of that character, albeit it is particularly applicable thereto. Since it is evident that many modifications in the form and arrangement of parts will present themselves to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of this invention, it is to be understood that such modifications, alterations, and rearrangements of parts are, although not specifically described herein, contemplated by and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: g

l. A nozzle of the character described, comprising, a face part containing a series of apertures arranged generally in U-conflguration for conducting the atomizing fluid and directing the same across the flow of a stream of molten material to be atomized, and said face being undercut exteriorly of and adjacent the apertures constituting the bottom of the U-conilguration to prevent molten material from passing between the apertures thereadjacent.

2. A nozzle of the character described, comprising, a face part containing a series of apertures arranged generally in U-configuration for conducting the atomizing fluid and directing the same across the flow of a stream of molten material to be atomized, and said face'having part of its surface adjacent the bottom of the U-configuration and outside thereof set back from the plane of the portion of the face which lies inside the U-configuration.

3. A nozzle of the character described, comprising, a face part containing a series of apertures arranged in the general form of .the Arabic numeral six (6), said face being undercut exteriorly adjacent the apertures which lie opposite the gap between the loop and the tip of the horn of the 6configuration.

4. A nozzle of the character described, comprising, a face part containing a series of apertures arranged in the general form of the Arabic numeral six (6), said face being out awayv exteriorly of said S-configuration to provide a face plane set back from, but substantially parallel with, the plane in which lie the mouths. of the apertures.

5. A nozzle of the character described, comprising, a face part containing a series of apertures arranged in the general form of the Arabic numeral six (6), said face being cut away exteriorly of said 6-configuration opposite the gap between the loop and the tip of the horn of the 6 to provide a face plane setback from, but substantially parallel with, the plane in which lie the mouths of the apertures.

6. A nozzle of the character described, comprising, a face part containing a series of apertures arranged in the general form of the Arabic numeral six (6), said face being cut away exteriorly of said 6-configuration completely thereabout to provide a face plane set back from, but substantially parallel with, the plane in which lie the mouths of the apertures.

7. A nozzle of the character described, comprising, a face part containing a series of apertures arranged in the general form of the Arabic numeral six (6), said face part lying in two substantially parallel planes with the portion outwardly adjacent the G-cpnfiguration set back.

8. A nozzle of the character described, comprising, a face part containing a series of aper- 20 tures arranged in the general form of the Arabic 25 two planes and merging with the plane of the apertures substantially at said apertures.

MARSHALL E. CALLANDER. 

